What is syringomyelia?
Syringomyelia is a rare condition in which long, fluid filled spaces are present in the central gray matter of the spinal cord. We call this space as syrin which expands and elongates over time, destroying the center of the spinal cord. Since the spinal cord connects the brain to nerves in the extremities, this damage results in pain, weakness, and stiffness in the back, shoulders, arms, or legs.

One way to think of syringomyelia is if you were to take a hot dog and inject water into the center. This forms an abnormal cavity within the structure of the spinal cord, causes pressure and disrupts the normal function of the nerves that travel from that area of the cord.

What are the symptoms?
Many of the symptoms of syringomyelia may be vague at beginning. However, symptoms can be progressive over a long period of time. Some people experience symptoms that occur suddenly, causing them to think they may have had a stroke.
Pain is one of the most common symptoms persons may experience. People may complain of pain in the arm, hand or leg. Some people report a burning type of pain around the ribs or in the neck or back. Often, the pain is present for months to years before a proper diagnosis is made. Pain on one side is more commonly reported than bilateral pain.
Many persons report a tingling sensation or numbness in the arm, chest, or back, in a leg or foot. If left unchecked, some people will report burning or injuring themselves without knowing it due to the numbness in an extremity..

Some people will report weakness in the hand or arm, or even in the leg or foot. Weakness is generally progressive over time and many people will say they have become clumsy with their hand and drop objects. Over time, some persons will develop atrophy (or muscle wasting). Infrequently, a person will become suddenly weak on one side of the body.

Weakness of the lower extremity may cause problems with walking, called ataxia. This is generally described as an unusual gait or dragging of one leg. Some people will stagger and report frequent falling due to the weakness of a limb.

Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest tightness, episodic fast heart rate, blood pressure changes, fatigue. SM may also adversely affect sweating, sexual function and bladder and bowel control.

What causes syringomyelia?

1. Trauma to the spinal cord or congenital developmental problems of the brain and/or spinal cord may result in SM.
2. Spinal cord trauma such as a car accident or serious fall may manifest years later as SM.
3. Congenital developmental problems, sometimes undetectable may result in syringomyelia.
   A number of medical conditions can cause an obstruction in the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid, redirecting it to the spinal cord itself. This results in the formation of a syrinx (cyst that fills with cerebrospinal fluid). Pressure differences along the spine cause the fluid to move within the cyst. It is believed that this continual movement of fluid results in cyst growth and further damage to the spinal cord and connecting nerves.

What are the different forms of syringomyelia?
There are two forms of syringomyelia, one is communicating syringomyelia and another noncommunicating syringomyelia.

1. Communicating syringomyelia
   This is due to Chiari malformation which is an anatomic abnormality causes the lower part of the cerebellum to protrude from its normal location in the back of the head into the cervical or neck portion of the spinal canal. A syrinx may then develop in the cervical region of the spinal cord. Here, symptoms usually begin between the ages of 25 and 40 and may worsen with straining or any activity that causes cerebrospinal fluid pressure to fluctuate suddenly. Some patients, however, may have long periods of stability. Some patients with this form of the disorder also have hydrocephalus, in which cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the skull, or a condition called arachnoiditis, in which a covering of the spinal cord--the arachnoid membrane--is inflamed.
2. Noncommunicating syringomyelia.
   The second major form of syringomyelia is noncommunicating syringomyelia which occurs as a complication of trauma, meningitis, hemorrhage, a tumor, or arachnoiditis. Here, the syrinx or cyst develops in a segment of the spinal cord damaged by one of these conditions. The syrinx then starts to expand. This is sometimes referred to as noncommunicating syringomyelia. Symptoms may appear months or even years after the initial injury, starting with pain, weakness, and sensory impairment originating at the site of trauma.
   

How is syringomyelia diagnosed?
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is the leading diagnostic tool used in determining syringomyelia. This test will show the syrinx in the spine or any other conditions, such as the presence of a tumor. MRI is safe, painless, and informative and has greatly improved the diagnosis of syringomyelia.

There are other diagnosis tests. One of these is called electromyography (EMG), which measures muscle weakness. The doctor may also wish to test cerebrospinal fluid pressure levels and to analyze the cerebrospinal fluid by performing a lumbar puncture. In addition, computed tomography (CT) scans of a patient's head may reveal the presence of tumors and other abnormalities such as hydrocephalus.

How is syringomyelia treated?
Surgery is usually recommended for syringomyelia patients. The main goal of surgery is to provide more space for the cerebellum (Chiari malformation) at the base of the skull and upper neck, without entering the brain or spinal cord. This results in flattening or disappearance of the primary cavity. If a tumor is causing syringomyelia, removal of the tumor is the treatment of choice and almost always eliminates the syrinx.

Chinese Medicine Treatment

1. Weakness of stomach and spleen.
   Symptoms:
   Extremities numbness, no feeling to pain and temperature changes, muscle atrophy, tiredness, short breath, weak voice, poor appetite, lower abdomen distension, slush stool, tender and enlarged tongue, deep and fine pulse.
   Formula:
   Center Boosting and Qi Enriching Decoction
   Composition:
   Radix Astragali 30g, Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae 20g, Rhizoma Atractylodis 15g, Radix Angelicae Sinensis 10g, Poria Cocos 15g, Radix Dipsaci 15g, Fructus Lycii 30g, Rhizoma Cimicifugae 5g, Rhizoma Notopterygii 12g, Fructus Chaenomelis 12g, Caulis Spatholobi 30g,
   Administration:
   Take decocted with water, 1 time daily.
   Variation:
   1. Lower abdomen distension: add Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis 10g
   2. Slushing stool: remove Radix Angelicae Sinensis
   3. Severe numbness: add Ramulus Cinnamomi 10g, Lumbricus 10g
   4. Severe weak limbs: add Cortex Eucommiae preparata 10g, Radix Achyranthis 15g
   5. Urinary incontinence: add Fructus Rubi 10g, Mantidis Ootheca 12g
   6. Swallowing difficulty: add Radix Ginseng 6g, Flos Inulae 9g, Haematitum 15g
   7. Long time muscle atrophy: add Radix Polygoni Multiflori 15g, Radix Rehmanniae 12g
   
2. Kidney vacuity and emptiness of bone marrow.
   Symptom:
   Numbness of muscle, no feeling to pain and temperature changes, muscle atrophy, difficulty with joints moving, walking difficult, slurring speaking, swallowing difficulty, sore waist and soft limbs, chilly limbs and body, pale complexion, purple tongue body, enlarged tongue body, tooth print at sides of tongue, tiny and rough pulse.
   Formula:
   Radix Rehmanniae Decoction
   Composition:
   Radix Rehmanniae 15g, Radix Morindae 15g, Epimedii Herba 15g, Herba Cistanchis 12g, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 10g, Fructus Corni 12g, Radix Ophiopogonis 15g, Poria Cocos 15g, Fructus Lycii 30g, Radix Astragali 30g, Radix Angelicae Sinensis 15g, Caulis Spatholobi 30g, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhziae 15g.
   Administration:
   Take decocted with water, 1 time daily.
   Variation:
   1. Kidney Yang vacuity: add Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata 6g, Cortex Cinnamomi 10g
   2. Spleen vacuity: add Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae 30g
   3. Blood vacuity: add Rhizoma Polygonati 30g, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 12g,
   4 . Urinary incontinence: add Fructus Rubi 10g, Fructus Alpinia Oxyphyllae 10g
   5 . Swallowing difficulty: add Radix Ginseng 6g, Flos Inulae 9g, Haematitum 15g
   6 . Speaking difficulty: add Rhizoma Cimicifugae 6g, Radix Bupleuri 6g, Rhizoma Acori Graminei 15g
   
3. Yin vacuity of both liver and kidney.
   Symptom:
   Extremities numbness, no feeling to pain and temperature changes, muscle wasting, fragile bones, decaying finger points, joints spasm, tingling muscle, walking difficulty, sore and soft knees and lumbago, dizziness, giddiness, read tongue, less tongue fur, tiny pulse.
   Formula:
   Hu Qian Pill
   Composition:
   Radix Rehmanniae 30g, Carapax Et Plastrum Testudinis 30g, Radix Paeoniae Alba 30g, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 10g, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae 9g, Radix Angelicae Sinensis 10g, Fructus Lycii 15g, Rhizoma Polygonati 30g, Radix Achyranthis 15g, Ramulus Loranthi 15g, Semen Cuscutae 10g, Caulis Spatholobi 20g
   Administration:
   Take decocted with water, 1 time daily.
   Variation:
   1. Tingling muscle: add Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis 10g, Scorpio 6g
   2. Limbs spasm: add Scorpio 6g, Bombyx Cum Batryte 12g
   3. Yin vacuity with inner fever: add Cortex Lycii Radicis 10g, Cortex Phellodendri 6g
   4. Qi vacuity: add Radix Astragali 30g, Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae 20
   5. Blood stasis: add Semen Persicae 10g, Flos Carthami 10g

The Standard Herbal Formulas

1. Formula: Bone Marrow Refilling Decoction
   Composition: Radix Astragali 30g, Radix Bupleuri 10g, Radix Platycodi 10g, Radix Rehmanniae 15g, Semen Cuscutae 15g, Radix Pseudostellariae 20g, Radix Glycyrrhizae 8g, Rhizoma Cimicifugae 5g
   Administration: Take decocted with water, 1 time daily.
   Source: Liaoning TCM Magazine
   
2. Formula: Doctor Chen’s Formula
   Composition: Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae 20g, Poria Cocos 15g, Rhizoma Atractylodis 15g, Fructus Aurantii 15g, Rhizoma Notopterygii 15g, Radix Angelicae Sinensis 15g, Fructus Chaenomelis 15g, Fructus Lycii 50g, Caulis Spatholobi 50g.
   Administration: Take decocted with water, 1 time daily.
   Source: Jilin TCM Magazine 1981, 1, 31p
   
3. Formula: Kidney-Boosting and Blood-Quickening Decoction
   Composition: Radix Rehmanniae 9g, Radix Angelicae Sinensis 9g, Herba Cistanchis 9g, Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae 9g, Rhizoma Polygonati 9g, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhziae 9g, Radix Dipsaci 12g, Radix Achyranthis 12g, Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati+E222 15g, Ramulus Mori 15g.
   Administration: Take decocted with water, 1 time daily.
   Source: New Medicine 1976, 3, 133p
   
4. Formula: Doctor Tian’s Formula
   Composition: Radix Morindae 20g, Herba Cistanchis 20g, Herba Epimedii 20g, Radix Astragali 20g, Colla Corii Asini 10g, Carapax Et Plastrum Testudinis 10g, Hydrocotyle Sibthorpioides 10g, Radix Glycyrrhizae 5g.
   Administration: Take decocted with water, 1 time daily.
   Source: China Magic Formula 1992, 622p
   
5. Formula: Warming- and Boosting- and Freeing- Yang Decoction
   Composition: Rhizoma Dioscorea 30g, Radix Rehmanniae 15g, Herba Ephedrae 4.5g, Rhizoma Zingiberis Siccatum 9g, Hydrocotyle Sibthorpioides 12g, Ramulus Cinnamomi 9g, Semen Psoraleae 12g, Rhizoma Atractylodis 15g, Rhizoma Cyperi 12g, Radix Angelicae Sinensis 12g, Radix Aconiti Lateralis 9g, Fructus Corni 12g, Radix Saussureae 9g, Radix Astragali 12g, Semen Psoraleae 12g, Caulis Spatholobi 12g
   Administration: Take decocted with water, 1 time daily.
   Source: Formulas From Prominent TCM Doctors 1982, 472p

Dr. Huai Yuanming and His Herbal Formula Invention
Dr. Huai now works as the director of Ghangcheng Myelophathy Hospital and formerly he was the founder of the hospital. After more than 10 years of experiment and research he successfully invented Chinese herbal formula Amyotrophy Convalescence Pill which can be effectively treat Syringomyelia (also called syrinx, hydromyelia, syringohydromyelia), trauma to spinal cord, chronic myelitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progressive spinal myodystrophia, arachoid adhesion, tumor in spinal cord, muscular dystrophy(MD) (myodystrophia).

Address:
Ghangcheng Myelophathy Hospital
189 Dongfeng Road
LiChuan District, Enshi City
Hubei Province, China 445000
Tel: 0086-135-9165-0476 (foreign)
0086-136-0418-0410
Fax: 0086-136-0418-0410